A parliamentary committee in the Canadian House of Commons has agreed to investigate the country’s security screening procedures following the arrest of a Canadian NATO intern by Belgian authorities on espionage charges.
The decision to conduct an inquiry came after the Conservative and Bloc Québécois parties requested an emergency committee meeting to look into the spying allegations against the intern. During a meeting of the public safety and national security committee on Monday, Members of Parliament from various parties collaborated and decided to schedule three sessions to delve into the matter when Parliament resumes in September.
The committee plans to summon Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and any other relevant witnesses deemed necessary to shed light on the issue. Subsequently, the committee will compile its findings and recommendations for presentation to the House.
Although the identity of the defendant in the Belgian criminal investigation has not been officially disclosed, a CBC News investigation revealed that the accused spy is Biwei Zhang, a systems engineer with an economics background who had been interning at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium.
It was discovered that Biwei Zhang is the legal name of the suspected individual, who goes by Claire Zhang professionally and Catina Zhang on her Facebook profile. Belgian authorities suspect Zhang of espionage on behalf of a foreign nation and involvement in a criminal network.
The issue has raised concerns regarding Canada’s security screening procedures, as highlighted by Conservative public safety critic Frank Caputo in a letter to the public safety committee chair. Caputo emphasized the need for parliamentary oversight given the gravity of the accusations against Zhang and questioned how she managed to secure an internship within a crucial military alliance without thorough screening and monitoring processes in place.
The NATO internship obtained by Zhang necessitated a rigorous security clearance, which Canadian authorities, specifically the RCMP and CSIS, would have been responsible for conducting, given her Canadian nationality.
Following the arrest of the alleged spy by Belgian authorities, Canada’s public safety minister assured a thorough investigation into the matter, acknowledging the seriousness of the charges. Prime Minister Mark Carney reiterated Canada’s active involvement in the case from the outset.
Further investigations by CBC News revealed Zhang’s previous roles within various Canadian government departments, including positions as an economist at Statistics Canada and a systems engineer at the Canadian Space Agency. In 2023, the Public Service Commission of Canada found Zhang guilty of fraud for applying to the Canada Border Services Agency under different names and emails, leading to a dismissal of her judicial review application in 2024.
Zhang’s professional history also includes stints at the World Trade Organization in Geneva and the European Space Agency in Italy, culminating in a recent completion of a master’s degree in computer science with a specialization in artificial intelligence from the University of Ottawa.
Prior to her arrest on espionage and criminal organization participation charges, Belgian authorities conducted searches at Zhang’s residence and workplace at SHAPE.